If appeals to your conscience don't work, try this: The Jefferson County Sheriff's Department and other local law enforcement agencies will have extra patrols for the holidays looking for drunken drivers. The Texas Alcohol and Beverage Commission also will be conducting stings to make sure those who sell alcohol are doing it legally. A DWI conviction will cost you thousands in court fines and higher insurance. You can avoid that expense - and maybe save someone's life - if you don't mix drinking and driving.

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Federal workers must pay back taxes

If federal workers owed their own government a combined total of $3 million in back taxes, plenty of citizens would be upset. Brace yourselves, taxpayers. The combined amount they owe is a whopping $3 billion. That's inexcusable. The federal government knows right where these scofflaws are - more than 276,000 federal employees and retirees. If they don't start paying up, the feds should seize portions of their paychecks until the debt is covered. Someone needs to remind these deadbeats where their salaries come from.

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Loud TV commericals need adjusting

Loud television commercials aren't the worst problem confronting Congress, but something needs to be done about this irritant to countless consumers. Fortunately, the House voted last week to forbid TV commercials from being noticeably louder than regular programs. That's a common complaint to the Federal Communications Commission, which has encouraged voluntary compliance by broadcasters. Congress should send a message that broadcasters can hear: It's time to turn down the volume.